Reaching inward, outward, and forward on the path to reconciliation.
The Reach Group is the evolution of BCT Projects, a company founded by Leonard Jackson in 2016 to support First Nations and Industry to work, grow and prosper together. At the centre of the BCT Projects approach was the willingness of communities and companies to respect and work to understand each other, from initial conversations through project negotiations and into the establishment of long-term relationship agreements.
Today, we’re seeing growing understanding and acknowledgement of what is and has been true for Canada’s Indigenous Peoples; we’re seeing more active initiation of reconciliation efforts, as a result.
Our practitioners walk in two worlds: within the historical and cultural contexts of our ancestors, and within our professions. We advocate and negotiate fair outcomes; build capacity; and remove barriers to community and economic growth.
The Reach Group is a founding member of the First Nations Capacity Fund (FNCF). Learn more about becoming a member.
OUR GROUP
Leonard Jackson, Senior Partner | 
Leonard has spent more than 25 years of his professional career facilitating relationships between Indigenous communities and Industry across British Columbia, in strategic leadership and operational roles with the Stk’emlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation, the Aboriginal Mentoring & Training Association, and BC Corrections.
Known for his upstanding ethical and moral standards, and his unwavering commitment to doing what he says he’s going to do, Leonard has a strong track record of success in developing lasting Aboriginal-Industry partnerships across the mining, forestry, powerline, oil and gas, and transportation sectors. His strong communication skills and empathetic approach to work have demonstrated time and time again that it’s possible to build positive and meaningful relationships, regardless of geographical setting, project constraints, or other project variables.
Leonard is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation.
Jeff Mayer, Partner |
Jeff joins The Reach Group with 20 years’ experience in the construction, logistics, and environmental-services sectors. He has a strong operations background with proven knowledge and skills in project and contract management, negotiation, and Indigenous inclusion and participation initiatives. Previously, Jeff worked with the Arrow Group of Companies for seven years, where he led a growth strategy focused on diversification activities within Arrow’s service portfolio.
Over the course of his career, Jeff has developed and led many successful industry-community partnerships and projects. His passion and vision around these opportunities has driven the creation of productive long-term relationships, fair economic benefit, and meaningful capacity growth in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across British Columbia.
He is a graduate of Simon Fraser University with a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
LAURA RETZER, Outreach Coordinator
For the last fifteen years, since graduating with a degree in English and Sociology from Thompson Rivers University, Laura has been keeping herself, and others, organized.
Today, in addition to running her own health and wellness business, Laura shares her administrative, organizational, and planning gifts and skills with clients. She joined the Reach Group in 2023 in the role of Outreach Coordinator, where she keeps the team on course, monitoring partnership and project activities, tracking outcomes and deliverables, and ensuring day-to-day operations run smoothly. Laura is often the first point of contact for people making inquiries to the Reach Group, and typically remains closely connected to our clients over the course of their engagement with the team.
MERLE ALEXANDER, Associate |
Merle practices Indigenous resource law empowering nations through title and rights affirmation, UNDRIP implementation, sustainable economic development and environmental conservation. Merle is a ‘life of project’ lawyer assisting with negotiations of all stages of impact benefit agreements, joint ventures, regulatory engagement, traditional knowledge collection and other corporate and tax-related advice. He is continuously engaged in legal support for emerging government to government negotiations in all resource areas including mining, oil & gas, forestry, pipelines, run-of-river and hydro projects. When needed, Merle adapts his solicitor experience and skill set to the emerging and developing needs of Indigenous clients. Merle is recognized in the Business in Vancouver’s BC 500, Lexpert Directory and Chambers Canada as a leading lawyer in the area of Indigenous law.
Merle is a member and will inherit a hereditary chief title from Kitasoo Xai x’ais First Nation on the mid-coast of BC.
Reach Out to The Reach Group
We want to hear from Indigenous communities and companies with a genuine interest in reaching inward, outward, and forward. To travel together on the path to reconciliation and economic prosperity through the creation of successful Indigenous-Industry relationships.
Let’s start a conversation.